
7.-\o^ 







^.."i* ♦ 



'jvS- 



. '.^'X '« 



0' .'JL*.. ^. ^* ^•"• 














'-.^■ 











O*. ***if * ^0- 




















r- ^ ti. 







1:f :^^°. 

c°\.i^^':-°o /*\:^^-.\, >^.-^<>- ./ 







^^ AT ♦ 





















.^^• 




■v^. 







W.'^^'X ' 












■\/ '' 














ON EMIGRATION^ 




New Vork^ Juli/Siy 1818, 

OH, 4Jll TEAR OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE. 

Dear-Sir, 

It is now upwards of twelve months since 
I landed in this count ry, during; which time I liave b(^en 
a silent, tliou^h chjsc observer of liie character and 
manners of the people, to reside among whom I left my 
country and friends. I ha\e been studiously anxious 
about the situation of my country men wlio liave emi- 
grated in the hope of belterinp; their condition; au 1 I 
feel it my duly to transmit to Kuro{)o the result of my 
observations on the Anieric;ui cliaracter, with tlie situa- 
tion of emigrants, and tluir future prosi»ccl.s, for the in- 
formation of those, whose minds are undetermined as to 
the propriety of rmi^iratinf; to the United Slates. To 
do tliis belore 1 had been an inhabitant one year, would 
justly have been thou;j;!it premature. 

The Am(!rican charactiTj in some respects, is truly ad- 
mirable ; in others, so strongly marked witli prejudice, 
that in some States, it is more disgust in;r than the charac- 
ter of any people on the face oftlie earth. It isadmiraldo 
in their superlative love of country. From the oldest to 
the youngest, this trait is the most prominent. Their 
prejudice consists in their hatred of the Englisli people, 
not the goKpniwont — their favourite theme of coversar, 
tion is, how ire (the people of England) endeavoured 
to crush them in the re\ olutionary war, how ive " got 
V hipped^' how t/'e subsequently impressed their seamen, 
how cruelly rce waged war with them, and how we ^^ got 
uluppecr again on land and at sea for our pains. When 
one or more native* of Britain are present, this Is 
their darling ^.opic ; and thi^ ib what I 'I'.iiominale 

J? 



Ignorant prejudice, for il is well-known that no Wars 
^vere ever entered into by the British government 
from the t ime of the First William to the pre- 
sent period, so unpopular as the American revolu- 
tionary war, and the war in 1812. There were, during 
the struggle for American independence, as many, and 1 
believe more, advocates for American emancipation, in 
Britain, than in America. The people, from many 
parts of England, sent deputies, who were examined by 
the ministers, and some, at the bar of the House of 
Lords, on the impropriety and injustice of the continu- 
ance of the war. Petitions were also sent by the 
people, praying for its discontinuance. 

That part of the American character, which to me is 
disgusting, is their continuance and extension of slavery, 
in a republican country ; but as it is my intention to de- 
vote one letter to this subject, I shall say no more on it 
here. 

The dress, habits, and manners of the people, are, in 
America, more diversified than, perhaps, in any othei' 
country in the world — the people of each State have 
some peculiarities by which they are known, and the 
linglish are distinguished from all, though speaking the 
same language, which is called, and considered Ameri- 
can ! They pride themselves in speaking more correctly, 
and in pronouncing their words more distmctly and ele- 
gantly than the English!! The great fault they find 
with the English, is their not sufficiantly aspirating the 
h, in Aat, Aorse, Aouse, and in other words in which that 
letter should have its full sound, and aspirating it where 
it should be omitted, as, in " Aerror'^ for error, " /<am" 
for am, &c. This, though a fault, is trivial, compared 
•with theirs, of introducing words, wliich I will honour with 
the name of Americanisinis ; such, for instance, as slicks 
[sleek] Spunky, [full of spirits] and other words, which 
are in common use through the United States, but would 
shock the delicacy of an English reader. 

There is one general trait in tlie American character, 
at least I know not an individual exception to it, that dis- 
agreeable, and to me, filthy custom of smoaking. Chil- 
dren, from five or six years of age, to men in the last 
istage of life, piactice smoaking, even on all occasions, from 



the lover, in the presence of his mistress, to the devotee, 
in the presence of his God.* It is here more singular, to 
see a gentleman in the company of ladies, without his 
segar, than to see him w^ith it in England. It is not an 
uncommon thing for the ladies to be asked, how 
they like the flavour of the segar which the gentle- 
man is smoaking ; and such is the effect of smoak- 
ing in their presence, that they invariably tell whe- 
ther it is a Spanish, New Orleans, or American se- 
gar. Cliewing tobacco is nearly as general. To be in 
the company of the 3^oung ladies of America, who are 
generally very pretty, genteel, and pleasantly communi- 
cative when the subject is at all agreeable to them, de- 
void of that rancorous prejudice which characterises the 
opposite sex to foreigners, would make an emigrant ima- 



* At Preakness, in the Slate of New Jersey, I resided between 
three or four months — it is about six miles from the Passaic Falls. 
The inhabitants of this part of Jersey are the descendants of the 
Dutch, who first settled at Communipaw, then on the Island of 
" Manhalta," where, under the title of New Amsterdam, they 
founded the present City of New York. Their descendants, in the 
Stales of New Jersey, and New York, where they principally reside, 
remain distant from the rest of the people, and are designated by 
the nan\es of " Butchers," or " Dutch Americans." They are, in 
common, with the Americans, very religious; and thou^^hthey 
cannot support a regular " dominie," (priest, or minister) they 
have one every fourth week, to whom they pay scventy'five 
dollars per annum, or sixteen pounds sixteen shillings aiid sixpence, 
sterling; for this, the •'dominie'" preaches thirteen Sundays in the 
year, or delivers twenty-six scrmo'is, and thirteen lectisres, 
which is one pound five shillings and eleven-pence, within a frac- 
tion, per diem, for two " zarmenls" and a lecture. At this church 
in Upper Preakness, I have been three limes. All round the church 
are waggons, gigs, and horses tied, during the iirst service, aui 
the taking the sacrament, which is done for the good of the body 
as well as the soul. For the second time I saw it taken, there 
were eleven white men stood round the altar, and three and half 
bottles of Port were drank by them. Afterwards, seven white 
women, when ihe white men retired, approached the altar, and 
their portion of wine was near two bottles ; they then retired. 
The dominie here asked if any people of colour wished to take the 
sacrament ; on which, an old slave, and young " wench" negress, 
came forward, 4nd put down some money, (^cents) and had it ad 
ministered. In this church, I have seen aa old '* Dutcher,"^ 
and an old '* vrouuy" (an oid woman) blind, smoaking, durin<^' 
i«ivice. 



gine (hey would retire with disgust from those gentle- 
siieii, whose principal delight consists in die wing tobacco 
and smoaking segars. 

In dress, the ladies follow the French fashions more 
than the English — the gentlemen, the Englislt, in pre- 
ference to the French. Canton crapes are in common 
use, both for gentlemen as well as ladies. Cashmere 
shawls are more prevalent here than in England — the 
price is moderate, compared with England. A re- 
publican government requires fewer taxes and du- 
ties on foreign manufactured articles, than are necessary 
to support a royal famihj^ hence the ladies can 
dress in America with little expence, with the beauti- 
ful dresses of Chiiita and India, while in England the 
duties and taxes on them are equivalent to a prohibi- 
tion. 

In appearance the Americans are tall and thin, sallow 
eoniplexioii, or as the Americans say " complected," care 
worn countenances, which are seldom enlivened by c* 
smile, a natural effect of calculating avarice. Did you 
ever know a being whose very sou^ was engrossed by 
avarice to smile? Never! but when adding to his ill- 
gotten gains, at the expence of others. At all other 
tiroes his appearance is morose and sullen« In their per- 
sons they are not so cleanly as the English. The 
American ladies, before they arrive ^t the age of 
twenty-iive or thirt^^ years, are particularly interesting, 
in their appearance and conversation ; but after that time 
they begin to lose their teeth, and o^d age is depicted on 
their features. An American woman looks as old at 
thirty as an English woman at fifty. 

Persons fond of literary pursuits, by emigrating to 
this country, will be, to use a vulgar expression " like a 
fish out of water," there being but few, if any, with 
whom they can enjoy the "- feast of reason, and tlow of 
soul," The poverty of talent in the United States, 
is disgraceful to the enlightened age in which we live. 
The people, however, consider themselves the " most 
enlightened on earth," and it is commotn to see the Pre- 
.sident, in his addresses to Congress, call them such. The 
governors of the different states, seldom omit compli- 
\\ienling the people of their respective slates, as being 



the most intelligent of tliis '" most enlightened country!^* 
and yet a work of standing merit has not been pro- 
duced ! Despise, as they do the English, it cannot be 
denied, but, that they are indebted to them for what 
knowledge they may possess, and for every intellectual 
repast. 

The proposition that a free press can only exist among 
an enlightened people, is here reversed. The press is as 
free as the air we breathe, or it may be made so. And 
yet the people are ignorant even of the geographical, 
moral and political situation of all countries, America 
included, except in the j^articular state in which they 
i*eside. They are more ignorant than Europeans, in 
every respect, except in the art of cheating simple ho- 
nesty. That dispersed race of men who are by all con- 
sidered as sharpers, are mere novices in dealing compared 
w ith the trading American, particularly those in, or from 
the EaJBtern states, known by the name of ' Yankees,' a 
name derived from a tribe of Indians who inhabited this 
part of the country called the ' Yankoos.' 

The four greatest literary characters tliis country can 
boast of, are — Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, 
Joel Barlow and William Duane ; to shew the encourage- 
ment and respect men of talent have received, and are 
likely to receive, it is more necessary to refer to facts, 
than depend on individual opinion. Facts cannot be 
controverted, opinions may be formed by prejudice. The 
first admit of no denial, the second do. " The manuscript 
writings of Franklin, would for ever have remained un- 
published, but for the generosity of an English pub- 
lisher in purchasing them, when his American brethren 
would not. The poem (Columbiad) by Barlow, is 
here scarcely known, though a work more American 
than any yet written ; like Franklin's Vvorks, it might 
have been burnt as waste paper, but for an English 
bookseller, Jefferson, the author of the declaration of 
independence, the greatest American sage who figured 
during the revolution, was, when President, more abused 
than any man that has been in office since this country 
has been independent of England, for no possible reason, 
than that he was a philo.>iopher, and possessed more ta- 
lents than any of his countrymen* ^Jr, Duane, k the 



oiiiy editor of a public journal (Piiiladelpliia Aurora) 
in America, wlio is independeiit in liis principles and 
really talented, he is more vilified and hated, than all the 
editors in tliis country put together, for three reasons ; 
the first, that he will not be made the tool of any men 
or party ; the second, that he is the best writer in the 
country ; and lastly, that he has made a decided stand 
against the present administration, for not assisting the 
people of South America in their struggle for freedom. 
Mr. Pvlmiroe's administration is remarkable for inatten- 
tion to internal improvements, for being worse than 
neuter, in the cause of South America, and for the 
chartering of swindling establishments, called Banks^ 
from which the country has suffered so mucli. 

The Americans evince as much hatred to learnings 
reason and wisdom, as one who has the liydrophobia 
does to water. To be sure, they have public establish- 
mentSj called " Colleges," but what man of talent or 
erudition has been produced? none! positively none!! 
go to their courts oi' justice, and hear their lawyers ta- 
citly admitting their own inferiority by quoting prece^ 
dents from the English courts, almost every action in a 
court of law, is decided by English judges ! that is, the 
most pointed or strong precedent quoted by American 
lawyers from the English reports are made law in Re- 
publican America ! ! ! 

Can ycm believe, my dear Sir, that under a radically 
reformed government in Britain, lawyers would waste 
their time, in poring over the huge piles of musty law 
cases, to find precedents to determine cases, in an age 
generally thouglil wiser ! would it not be admitting our 
own inferiority in intellect? or do you think a judge 
would disgrace himself by referring to the decisions of a 
Jid^ries, a Kenyon, a Mansfield, or an Ellenborough ? 
I think not. My opinion is, every decision, every re- 
cord, disgraceful to honest men would be burnt. How- 
ever, English prejudiced decisions answered very well in 
the following cases I ha\ e no doubt. They were quoted 
witli the greatest eclat to the prejudice of the accused, 
and subsequently convicted being, who, perhaps, a few 
years before fought and bled to make his country in- 
dependent of British law, and British tyranny ; then ia 



biB old age to be consigned to a dungeon, and compeliad 
to pay a fine for swearing an oath common to all sailors, 
on the authority of an " English Precedent !" The first 
case is, that of Cornelius Brown, a common sailor, who 
in 1802, was convicted in the penalty of ten pounds, and 
sentenced to imdergo a servitude of three months, and 
pay the costs of the prosecution ! for swearing by the 

5 ? 

in Philadelphia. In the year 1806, in the same city, a 
lawyer by ihe name of Lloyd, was prosecuted for using 
what is termed blasphemous language ! ! and in 1807, in 
the city of New- York, one Foster was indicted as a 
*^ public nuisance," for lecturing on natural religion on 
the sabbath-day ! ! ! 

The number of lawyers and doctors in this coun=^ 
fry, are twenty times as great as in England. 
In New- York, cellars, such as the cobiers in London 
work in, are occupied by ^'counsellors at law, doctors, 
and surveyors/' To an emigrant, on his first arrival, the 
number of doctors appears unnecessary, tliey are not so 
as he will unfortunately experience, should he reside 
here long, the climate being so deleterious, the sudden 
transitions from cold to heat, and heat to cold, and the 
extremes of each being so great as to destroy the be^^t 
constitution, that to preserve life, medical aid is indis- 
pensibly requisite. The pestiferous air is such, that a 
corpse cannot be kept in summer more than tweh e, or 
twenty-four hours in winter, they are never kept more 
than three days, and tlien buried with their cloathes on I 

Those persons who write to encourage emigration, 
studiously keep out of sight tlie dreadful effects; of the 
American climate. Those who have experienced the 
burning sun of June, July, and i*iugust, the intense cold 
of January, February, and March, must be devoid of 
principle, not to inform their enquiring friends in Eu- 
rope, the suflerings incident to emigrants on their ar- 
rival here. Most emigrants for the first two summers 
are tormented with small poisonous insects, called Mus- 
quitoes, which are more numerous than flies in England ; 
wherever they bite, a swelling is caused, some are so 
punished by their sting, that they are rendered incapable 
of walking without ^reat difficulty; or using their handi 



when stung. I was lasf summer at Preakuess, New- 
Jersey, where for more than a month, I could not hold 
a pen, and for a fortnight I had recourse to a stick, to 
enable me to walk, occasioned by the bites of these noisy 
poisonous insects ; a fortnight since, I was again attacked 
by them, and my right hand was so swollen, I could not 
close it for four days, A gentleman, by whom you sent 
a letter, arrived here ten days since, he is now sitting 
opposite me, with his arm in a sling, incapable of putt- 
ing on his coat, his arm being so painful and inflamed, 
by the repeated stingings of Musquitoes. A young lady, 
Miss , presents at present a very different ap- 
pearance from ihat which we beheld, when we had the 

pleasure of her company at , she earnestly 

requests me to state how she has suffered by the heat 
and Musquitoes , she has not been out during the last 
three weeks^ her face, arms, and hands, are so swelled 
as to present a disagreeable, rather than pleasing ap- 
pearance^ 

I could add sevefal cases similar to the above, but what 
I have mentioned are sufficient to prove that comfort is 
not always experienced by those who have been so im- 
prudent as to leave their homes to come to America. It 
is true we have few beggars, it is true we never see or 
hear of the military being employed at the place of 
election as it is sometimes in England, it is true we have 
fewer soldiers in the United States, although thirty 
times larger than England, as a standing army is there 
considered as a necessary part of the state establishment, 
without which it might be dangerous to hang for sedition 
those who have been treasonable enough to complain of 
oppression and hunger. It is true they have few taxes, 
but this is a natural effect of a Republican government ; 
but it is also true, that the white Americans buy, sell, 
and keep in slavery, their black brethren, whom they 
call "negers,'^ which is morally more disgraceful to a 
people than begging. In opposition to the standing army 
of Britain, I shall place the drunkenness, profligacy, 
and superstition of the present race of Americans, which 
are more injurious to virtue, morality, and reason, than a 
standing army of one hundred thousand men is to politi- 
cal freedom. 



The unquenchable thirst for ardent spirits is greater 
in America than England. An account of the quantity 
of ardent spirits, used in America, has been published iii 
the " American Eat^le," which states that ' sixteen mil- 
' lion gallons are distilled annually in this country, the 
' same quantity imported from the West Indies and Europe, 
' making thirty-two million gallons. The United States, 
' when this estimate was made, containe^l about seven 
' million people of all ages and complexions, A man^ 
' if he is economical and buys bj' the quantity, may get 
' drunk for a penny ! while in the commercial of Atlantic 
' States, where it is saddled with a heavy duty, it will 
' cost a sliilling or two to produce the same effect. We 
' cannot calculate the cost of this poisonous drug, at less 
' than two dollars tlie gallon : taking all the sorts from 
' old cogniac to potatoe whiskey, and as most of it is 
*- drank by the gill, with the profits of the dram sliop, 
' and in a great variety of compound and expensi/e 
*^ forms, such as punch, toddy, flip, sling, bitters, &c* 
' at this rate it Costs tlie country annually sixty -four mil- 
^ lion dollars, an enormous sum ! which if expended in 
' useful industry, would in a few years convert our coun- 
^ try to a garden, and in a single year dig out a great 
' canal.' 

It is a notorious fact, that, for the last few years, it has 
become fashionable among a certain class of >Vriters to 
eulogise America, and every thing American, at the 
expence of truth and candour: the situation of emi- 
grants, agricultural and mechanical, have been contrast- 
ed with those in England, to present to the working 
men the advantages they will derive by emigrating to this 
country. Thousands liave been fatally deceived, as has 
been proved by their return at the expence of the British 
Government, and that too pennyless, with not a second 
coat or shirt in their possession. When I waited on 
the British Consul at New York to obtain a copy of the 
" Address of Condolence on the Death of the Princess 
Charlotte," he entered into conversation w itli me on the 
impropriety of protesting against it. (See Note A.) 
declaring tliere was as much distress here as in England, 
and that " British subjects were more distressed here 
than they were in England," I dissented from what he 



10 

md. He replied, that he had the iiames of upwards of 
seventeen hundred poor emigrants, who petitioned ium to 
be sent home, and, added he, " If, Sir, you wish to 
satisfy yourself, you are welcome to sit down and read 
over their names and places of address/' 

There are hundreds of others who came to this coun- 
try with money in their pockets, or goods to be converted 
into money, with plenty of clothes, their money is ex- 
pended, or swindled from them, their goods sold at auc- 
tion for little more than is sufficient to pay the duty on 
manufactured articles, and the auctioneers commission 
for selling them, thus their resourses are gone. They 
are left with empty pockets and good clothes to seek em- 
ployment. If tliey are clerks tliey will seek in vain, if 
mechanics or labouring men their success is more likely, 
thoughthen it is very doubtful; when they are so fortunate 
as to obtain employment, they s,re promised certain wages, 
but it is a tiiousand to one if these wages are paid them, 
for Americans are famous for promising, and breaking 
their promises ! Those men who liave reputable friends 
in Europe, will not, can not, pray to be sent home as 
paupers from parish to parish. '' While there is lif© 
there is hope,'' it is said, they keep parting with |their 
clothes to pay their board and wasliing, each day or week, 
hoping something will occur, till at last the delusion is 
over and they lind themselves without money, without 
elothes, and in debt for their living, in a country where 
a '-^foreignef is despised and hated ; the horrors of the 
climate come upon them thick and fast, and they have 
little need of being plunged deeper in the abyas of misery. 
This is the principal cause why their friends in their na- 
tive country seldom receive commanications from them. 
They have, by emigration, worsted their situation, and 
it is natural ibr people to iiide distress. Had tliey suc- 
ceeded, there is no doubt but their friends in Europe 
would have had frequent intelligence of their prosperity 
and happiness. 

This being the first of a series of Letters on Emigration, 
I will suppose a man to have determined on leaving 
Great Britain, the country of hii* birth — the country, 
containing all that are dear to him — the country, in 
which tbe tender emotions of love first warnied \\\% heart 



ii 

hnd soul and made an impression never to be eradicated 
by place or time, and in which the best principles had 
their origin. Thi3 man feels disgusted, as every good 
man must, at tlie misery to which his country is brought 
by the ignorance and imbecility of those who misrule it : 
he reads of America inhabited by people speaking the 
same language as himself, possessing what is dear to every 
rational being, and without which life is a curse — free- 
dom, lie sells his " all,'^ takes leave of his dear con- 
nections (a heart-rending scene) proceeds to the most 
convenient port, selects the vessel he intends to go in, 
pays his passage-money, loiters about tlie town till the 
time of sailing, his mind harrassed at the expellee he is 
at in a sea port town, of wliat he lias done, and the uncer« 
tainty of w^hat he will experience when landed in a 
foreign country, going through the Alien Office or Cus- 
tom Hou^e, view^ed by the land-waiter, examined b3'the 
searcher previous to the pilot leaving the ship, expe- 
riencing, what to me is really dreadful, a sea-sickness, 
encountering the dano-ers of the ocean, and landinoj in a 
country where every thing is dilTerent to what he has 
been accustomed to, with, perhaps, a pocket full of 
'' introductory letters^ which are generally worse than 
useless to the possessor. 

The people of England and Ireland are proverbial for 
their hospitality to foreigners. It is not so with the 
people of America, Aviio consider every foreigner an in- 
terloper. Rich men are courted for their money, but hatel 
for their foreign extraction. Poor emigrants are both de- 
spised and hated. I scarcely know whether the rich or 
poor emigrant loses most by the change. The rich one 
leaves behind him comfort, ease, happiness, and, I may 
add, intellectual enjoyment, for it is not to be had in a 
country, the inhabitants of which are speculating traders 
of the worst description — friends he has none, nor w ill 
he ever find one in an iVmerican, unless it be for their 
principal god — his money. He has exchanged, a beau- 
tiful, fertile, and renowned country, possessing all the 
most extravagant imagination can desire for the various 
wants of man ; for one peopled with the descendants of 
the vilest race, who to a\ oid their just deserts, came 
here, and to liide their inikmyj put on the convenient 



12 

garb oi religion. Bodily comfort, aiul mental happine.-js 
are unknown in the United States. 

The poor Emigrant has heard, or read, of nleat being 
on the working man's table three times a day — it is, 
but when he witnesses it, and partakes of it, he finds the 
reality and his sanguine expectations at variance, the 
meat being inferior to English oi* Irish. An American 
ox, weighing ten or twelve hundred weight, is called a 
'' mammoth ox :" when they have one this weight it is de- 
corated with ribbons, led through the city or town, 
escorted by the butchers, accompanied by bands of mu- 
sic, to be stared at by the astonished spectators. Lamb, 
Ifiiutton, and veal, very inferior to the same in England 
and Ireland. Pork good, though not equal to what you 
see bought in the London markets. Bullock's liver is 
publicly sold in the markets and eaten by the people! 
In England it is, as you and every Enolishman knows, 
given to the cats and dogs. Vegetables worse than 
the meat, and made still worse by cooking. Beet root 
is here boiled and eaten as a vegetable, or, as it is called, 
'' sauce.'' In England, cabbages before they are brought 
to table are boiled — in America, they are cut in small 
pieces, hot vinegar poured on them, then served up as 
*-' sauce," and eaten immediately. This disagreeable mess 
is called ^'cold slaw." Another favorite "5////ce" very 
common here is the '' squash^^ — think of a large rotten 
turnip, and you can have an idea of the ^' squashy Thus 
the poor emigrant gains in quantity of animal food, but 
loses in quality. Blackguaixlism, drunkenness, and im~ 
morality are characteristics of American workmen and 
labourers — honesty that of the English ; though I am 
sorry to say the Americans would be justified in applying 
the same chaiacter to many of my countrymen here, as 
they are generally the worst w orkmen and most disso- 
lute men who take up their permanent residence and 
become citizens* 

Manly exercises, as cricket, fox-hunting, and tennis, 
he cannot have in this country but at the fisk of life. 
Who but madmen would think of such exercises in Ame- 
rica when the thermometer in summer is from eighty to 
one hundred degrees above zero in the shade, and in 
winter to twenty below it? At this moment I am writ- 



13 

ing in a parlour between two windows, in a thorough 
drauglit of air, nearly naked, and the tliermorneter 
is at 98 ! This, to me excessive heat, has been of near 
tive weeks continuance, and is likely to continue two 
months longer ; on me it has produced an indescribable 
langour, on others it has proved fatal. 1 did intend to 
forward to you, by embodying in this letter incontrover- 
tible proofs * of the truth of what I have said of the ex- 
cessive heat, with its horrid effects ; but at present I am 
so fatigued and overcome with the oppressive heat I am 
unable to do it. I, liowever, will send them by the iiext 
ship to London from this port, in the mean time believe 
me to be your's w ith respect, 

WILLIAM CLARK. 



LETTER II. 



Provost Street, Neiv York., Aurj. 29, 1818. 

Sir, 

I have been informed you expected more 
general information from me on agricultural, manufac- 
hiring, and mechanical occupations, than I have written 
hitherto. That I have not sent the information you ex- 
pected, is true, but am I blameable for not giving you 
that information I myself was ignorant of? Information 
received in Europe Irom persons here but a few weeks 
or months, is not lo be implicitly depended on; however 
anxious the informant may be to communicate the truth 
to his friends. To give correct information, close ob- 
servation is necessary, personal enquiries of those imme- 
diately concerned in that particular occupation witii 
which we w ish to make ourselves acquainted, and this is 
not to be done without considerable time and trouble. 
This I have done, and the information I will now com- 
mujuicate to you for your and the public's use may ex-^ 
culpale me from any ai)parent neglect. 

* I have since my icluru lo Lon^lon embodied Ihem in my letter 
descrii)tivc of New York. 



14 

the middle classes, and what are stigmatized as the 
'^^ lower orders'^ of society, are the most interested about 
the United States, and the farmers, manufacturers, and 
tradesmen who are generally deluded about the state of 
thii country, and whom I will endeavour to undeceive. I 
will also shew to those inclined to leave their homes, allured 
by the exaggerated false and interested statements of a few 
rich men, who have bought land cheap to inveigle their 
counirymen (profiting by their credulity and distress) to 
join them in the happiness they are likely to experience. 
These men well knowing when once arrived, the impos- 
sibility of a poor man's returning, v»ho having sold what 
little properly he possessed to cross the Atlantic, and 
having attained the goal of his infatuated and sanguine 
expectations, is doomed to find things ?wl as they were 
described. Then it is, ^' curses not loud but deep," are 
uttered by the unfortunate beings who have thus been 
betrayed into misery for tlie purpose of raising these land 
speculators fortunes on the ruins of their own comfort, 
independence and happiness. There are hundreds of in- 
stances in the western country of duped emigrants and 
tlieir families lingering out a miserable existence under 
*^ ws" and our brother land jobbers. A Mr. Jones, who 
left Yorkshire about eighteen months since, and has 
travelled through all the western stales, arrived in this 
city the day before yesterday, on his return home ; and 

I spent last evening with him by accident, at in 

Nassau Street. He informed me of women and children 
perishing for want of medical aid ; the ?iext neighbour 
in many parts living several miles off', and this is the 
situation to which avaricious land speculators would 
bring those who are inclined to emigrate. 

Besides which, the dangers and difficulties of traversing 
the w estern country are incalculable, there are ten times 
as many lives lost in going from the shores of the Atlantic 
to the western states, than there are, in crossing the 
Atlantic ocean from Europe. The best way and the 
one the most recommended is up tiie Ohio, for families 
who generally buy boats called '' family- boats.'' The 
writers who encourage emigration and are interested in 
it, forget to inform the people in Europe that this 
^' noble river'^ h in the summer and autumnal months 



u 

generally impassable for want of sufficient nater ! andf 
hundreds of families every summer are by dire necessity 
compelled to waste the healthy season by encamping for 
months on the banks waiting for a rise, when it often 
happens that they must wait till the inclement season 
sets in. During this time numbers perish, some for 
w^ant of sustenance, some of the fever and ague, and some 
by the inclemency of the weather. A young man^ Mr. 

D \ whose friends live at Kennington, Surrey, was 

frozen to death the last winter on his way to tlie western 
country. Such are the sufferings of the emigrants, that 
an American nati^'e of Indiana asks, ^ Who is there so 
' unfeeling, as not to sympathize with the annual thou- 
' sands of disappointed and suflering emigrants?' 

Let any tender father or husband reflect before he fol- 
lows the advice of those whose interest it is to represent 
a wilderness a paradise, a dismal unhealthy swamp, a 
healthy English prairie ; in placing the partner of his 
life, and the young innocents to whom he has given 
birth, where he and ihcy will inevitably be visited 
periodically by the fe\ er and ague. The yellow fever in 
these pestilential marshes would be a blessing rather than 
a curse, for it would dispatch at once the wretched 
victims of a lingerins: disease. Where is the afiectionate 
parent but would vent his execration on that avaricious 
wretch whose sole aim is to deceive his countrymen by 
writings encouraging emigration to the Illinois, to en- 
hance the price of his land under the specious pretext of 
forming an " English Selllement !" when in the result 
it proves to be little better than a hecatomb of human 
misery and disease ; the mere Golgotha of English emi- 
grants in the " Western Territory.'^ 

The questions you sent I will now answer ; to the cor- 
rectness of the statements I pledge myself, as I collected 
the information from the most respectable sources, and 
when I had any doubts I enquired of others in the same 
condition. I purposely made enquiries of native-born 
Americans in preference to emigrants ; the name of each 
I have by me with his address. 

You wish to know — ^^ What would be the rent of a 
farm of one hundred acres, twenly of m_eadow, eight of 
mchard^ forty of ploughing^ and thirty of wood?' Most 



10 

farms are occupied by their owners. Those near cities 
and towns are the best suited for Enolish farmers, and 
their price is or may be averaged at from fifty to eighty 
dollars per acre, or from eleven pounds five shillings to 
eighteen pounds sterling. 

'-' What taxes does the farmer pay V^ — At present no 
United States tax ! The taxes he pays are on house and 
land, levied by the state legislature in which he resides ; 
there is also a tax for the support of the poor, such as 
you in England call a " poor's rate ;" all the taxe.s he 
pays will not be three pounds for an hundred acres. 
Til is is a natural effect of self or republican government, 
where the poor labourer and mechanic votes for his law- 
maker. I know a Dutch farmer, at PreaknesvS, New 
Jersey, who has a farm of a thousand acres, with a house 
as large as any you see in Skinner-street, London, 
This man pays not quite thirty dollars, or six pounds 
fifteen shillings per annum, for dogs, horses, house, land 
and slaves, 

'* What is the price of a good cart horse?" — There m 
)iot the same difference in horses here as in England, 
there being no heavy draught horses, similar to those in 
London. The horses are very good for their size. The 
largest are those of Pennsylvania, which are the size of 
an English coach horse. The price is from sixty to one 
hundred dollars generally, or from thirteen pounds ten 
shillings, to twenty^two pounds ten shillings. 

''What are the wages of a farmer's labourer ?" — Their 
nominal wages are ten dollars per month, or one hundred 
and twenty per year ; though none receive such high 
wages in tact. There is more deception here than you 
would imagine in such a case ; thus a man instead of re- 
ceiving money as in England, is paid in kind, that is, he 
receives so many bushels of apples, indian corn, rye, 
buck-W'heat, or potatoes, with this he has to travel to 
market or the '' next store" several miles distant, there 
to sacrifice it for one half at what he had taken it at, as 
the farmer let's his man have it at the price it is sold at 
in market, which is sometimes several hundred miles 
from Ilia farm ; then there is the expence of waggon and 
horse to carry it to the ^'next store," hislobs of time, the 
depricated price the store keeper allows lor what he liaa 



It 

to find room till he goes to market, which he generally 
does twice a year, with his travelling expences and profit 
to remunerate him for the money he has advanced, and 
will not have returned for some months, after this the 
poor labourer has for his wages one third of the nominal 
iamomit which was stipulated, then he is paid for it not 
in cash, but in articles of cloathing for himself and fa- 
mily at an exorbitant price, such as a man may suppose 
a trader will charge, where there is little or no compe- 
tition. Farms are worked by slaves mostly ; the ex- 
ceptions are the five New-England states and Penn-^ 
pylvania. A "^/ree negro'^ has less wages than a white 
man. 

The American labourer and meclianic in no part of 
America, except the large cities, receive money for their 
labour, the farmer's labourer is paid as I have stated 
above the mechanic, somewhat differently^ he having an 
" order on the store'' for what he wants given him by 
his employer, which order entitles him to receive from 
the " store" what is absolutely necessary to his support, 
such as bread, tea, meat, flour, &c. ; you will at one 
glance, see the swindling effects of this mean system. 
A workman is engaged in the cities or towns to go " up 
the country" to work at seven or eight dollars per week, 
for every article of provision, he has to pay from ten to 
twenty per Cent, more than he would, had he ready 
money. In the article of cloathing, he is, to use an 
Americanism, compleatly *' bilked ;" lor mstance, if he 
wants a coat, he solicits from his employer " an order 
on the store" which is evaded for some time, under the 
pretext of not knowing how his and the store keeper's 
account stands, and if, after examining both accounts, he 
shodld find he owes his journeyman double the price of 
one, he gives him an '^ order" for the coat, and for 
which the poor wretch is charged twenty-five per cen- 
tum more than if he had paid " cash*" This is the uni- 
versal practice in small towns or villages in America, 
except as in the case of weavers, w ho to obtain pay, hawk 
their ow^n w^ork ; among the settlers^ or " squatter s^^ in 
the most unfrequented parts of the Union. 

" What wages for women servants ?" — From two to 
six dollars per month, if white women, but house work 

c 



IS 

i« generally done by ^\wenches'^ who are negresse^ and 
slaves. 

" What is the price of a good chaise?'^— -A handsome 
one with a leather head^ from four to five hundred dol- 
lars, without that convenience, and being otherwise in- 
ferior, in pomt of elegance, strength, and utility, 
from two hundred and fifty to three hundred and 
fifty dollars. Sledges, or as they are called sleighs, are 
in winter used in preference to wheel carriages. 

" What is the climate of America?'^ — A very indefi- 
nite question, as in some parts it is never cold, and in 
others never hot, but always deleterious to health. In 
the middle states, we have the extremes of heat and 
cold with greater or more sudden transitions than are 
known in any other part of the world. On the 30th of 
June last; I tried the following experiment, I procured 
a bar of iron, fourteen feet long, two inches wide, and 
five eighths thick, laid it in a yard where the sun shone 
the whole day, it remained there from half past ten in 
the morning, till half past three in the afternoon, and it 
had increased three quarters of an inch in length ! ! 

" New- York being the London of America, and the 
place to which most persons from Great Britain emigrate, 
I wish to have answered the following questions : Wliat 
is the rent of a house the size I occupy ?" — It depends 
entirely on the situation; If in the busy trading part 
of the city, from two to three hundred pounds. In the 
Bowery or Grccuwlch, nm far fiunx ilit; busy scenes of 
trade as our Somers Town or Kennington, from sixty to 

eighty pounds per annum. Our friend T paid 

two hundred dollars for his in the Bowery, consisting of 
two parlours, two rooms on the first floor, and a kind of 
loft, with a wash-house, and a few feet of ground as a 
small yard. 

" What taxes ?" — In a republic, taxes are of course 
very trifling. The trifle you do pay, levied by the legis- 
lature of this state, as well as all the others, are abso- 
lutely necessary, for the improvement of the city, roads, 

cutting canals, and erecting of bridges. Mr. T 

paid, I think, five dollars and a few cents, or about one 
pound three shillings. The largest and best house in 
the city does not pay twenty pounds yearly ! 

'^ What conveniences foi: water?" — This eity is very 



19 

badly supplied with fresh or soft water, being situatect oti 
ah island between the east and north rivers, very conti- 
guous to the sea, and the water in those rivers for many 
miles above the city being salt, you must be content 
with hard or pump water for brewing, washing, &g. 
unless you are willing to pay two or four pence per pail 
for rain water. 

" What are the prices of nine, eighteen, and thirty^ 
six gallon casks ?" — It is not customary to make casks 
of those sizes, unless particularly ordered. Five, fifteen 
and thirty-two gallon casks are here made. The prices 
are as foUow^s in Enghsh sterling money : — 

A five gallon cask, from four to five shillings. 

Fifteen ditto, from five and sixpence to six and sixpence* 

Thirty^two ditto, from seven aud sixpence to eight 
and sixpence. 

Ten ditto, iron bound, from five and sixpence to six 
and sixpence. 

Thirt^^-two ditto, ditto, thirteen and sixpence to four- 
teen shiUings. 

Sixty ditto, from one pound-two and sixpence, to one 
pound five. 

Rum puncheons, iron boiind, from one pound thirteen 
to one pound fifteen. 

Ditto, wooden bound, from fifteen and nine-pence tq 
eighteen shillings. 

Cedar water pails, from three and fourpence, to four 
and sixpence. 

Oak ditto, from foul" and sixpence to five and seven- 
pence* 

" Are there any pleasant gardens to second or third 
rate houses, as in the out-skirts of London V^ — No ! a 
neat well laid out garden, such as are common round 
London, 1 have looked for in vain since I left that coun- 
try, which, (but for her corrupt and wicked government) 
might and would be an earthly paradise, 

" What places of amusement?" — A theatre near the 
City Hall, which on the outside has more the appearance 
of a prison than a play house, the performers mostly 
English or Irish^ third rate. It is generally believed by 
the people here. Miss O'Neill or Mr. Kean, will be enga- 
ged to perform in America, for two or three years. I trust 
^either will come, both for their sake, and for the awk-» 

q2 



^ 20 

Ward situation tlic miserable actors and actresses wlil 
be placed in by saying their parts, for it is saying^ com- 
pared with the performing of either that lady or gentle- 
man. — Young actors or actresses in England could not 
act more imprudently than in leaving that country for 
this ; there emulation is excited by competition, here it is 
destroyed, or becomes nugatory for want of it. Phillips 
the young Irish singer, who could not be tolerated in a 
duet with Eraham, before a critically correct audience 
in London, is here considered superlatively excellent. — 
A Circus in summer well conducted, tlie company consists 
of French, Italian, and English. A Museum, respectable, 
the curiosities chiefly the collection of Mr. Scudder, 
tvhose exertions are indefatigable to please the public. 

" Wliat rural amusements ?^^ — None that I know of, 
unless indeed it be a rural amusement to cross the North 
river, a distance of two miles, in the horse boat to Ho- 
boken in Jersey, to walk about some brown fields, for the 
scorching heat prevents them being green, and to take 
some relreshment at the " Hoboken Hotel," which is a 
shabby public house, when compared to those at Cum- 
berland Gardens, Vauxhall, Highbury-barn, Hornsey- 
tvood and Canonbury. 

'' Is horse racing, cock fighting, and cricket playing, 
practised in America ?'' — In this state, horse racing is more 
fashionable than in any other ; in some slates where biting, 
gouging and kicking are prevalent, horse racing is consi- 
dered as " an irreligious practice.'^ Cock fighting, or 
as the Americans say, " rooster fighting," is not en- 
couraged, though too often practised. The weather is 
too hot for such manly exercise as cricket, though the 
Europeans have twice attempted to form a cricket- 
club. Billiards, dice, and ninepins are very common ; at 
those, and such games, smoaking segars, and drinking 
ardent spirits, form no inconsiderable part. There is too 
much hard exercise in cricket, fives, tennis, or trap -ball, 
with too little to drink^ for them to be favourite games in 
this country. 

*^ What spirits, and what price?" — Rum is the fa- 
vourite drink, price, eleven and sixpence currency, per 
gallon, or six and sixpence sterling by the puncheon. 
Gin not so common, best hollands, five and tenpence half- 
penny. Gin distilled in this country, two and ninepencej, 



21 

peach-brandy, five shillings per gallon when bought by the 
barrel. When this last liquor is mixed with hot water, su- 
gar, and current-jelly, it becomes dangerously palateable. 

" What is the price of cyder?" — Though apples are 
so cheap, good, and plentifiU, there is but very little good 
cyder ; it is generally not fit to drink in summer, the 
retail price is sevenpence per quart, (wine mea?ure.) 
The best is that made in Newark, New- Jersey, which is 
equal to English draught cider. 

" What wines are generally drank, and what is their 
price ?" — Claret, in bottles, one pound two and sixpence 
a dozen. Fayal wine, four and sixpence the gallon ; 
Lisbon, seven shillings ; Madeira, twelve shillings ; Ma- 
laga, four and sixpence ; Pert, very little drank, four- 
teen shillings ; Sherry, seven shillings ; Teneriife, six and 
nine pence. 

'^ What are the prices of coffee, chocolate, sugar and 
tea ?" — The best fine green West India coffee, one and 
sixpence per pound. Chocolate eighteen pence per 
pound ; white Calcutta sugar, two pounds eigliteen and 
sixpence, per cwt. White Ilavanna, four pounds five, per 
cwt. Mucovada, three pounds seven and sixpence, per 
cwt. New-Orleans, three pounds, per cwt. Lump, per 
pound, ninepence. Loaf, per pound, one shilling. Of 
tea, the several descriptions are as follows : old Hyson, 
six and ninepence, per pound, such as you pay fourteen 
shillings for, the remaining, or extra seven and three 
pence in every pound of Hyson tea, is so much tax to 
support the monopoly of the East India Company, which 
IS now ui DEBT several millions to the government of 
Britain. Young Hyson, five and sevenpence halfpenny. 
Souchong, Bohea, Congo and Campoi, are seldom brought 
to market, as black tea is never drank in any part of the 
United States. 

^f What \s the price of flour of different qualities V*—^ ' 
Richmond, superfine^ one pound eleven and sixpenccj 
per barrel. Philadelphia, one pound nine, Baltimore, the 
same. New- York, one pound six, Middling, one pound 
two and sixpence, rye, eighteen shillings. Indian meaJ, 
one pound. 

" What are the prices of different articles of wearing 
apparel?". — English cloths sell for, fiom one pound i^ 



22 

thirty^six shillings per yard. Linen for shirtuig, from 
three and four pence, to five and sevenpence. 

An under, or close bodied coat, such as you pay four 
guineas for, will cost from four pounds eight to five 
pounds. A superfine surtout, such as I paid six guineas 
for the winter before last in London, would cost here 
from eight pounds ten, to ten pounds. Pantaloons, from 
Qne pound thirteen to three pounds twelve shillings. 
Waistcoats, or vests, from thirteen and sixpence to two 
pounds five shillings. Beaver hats, from one pound 
seven to one pound eleven and sixpence. Leghorn and 
straw, are generally wore in summer by gentlemen. 
Cotton stockings, from three and four pence to eight 
shillings, per pair. Brown top boots, from two pounds 
five to two pounds fourteen shillings, Wellington boots, 
tWQ pounds. Shoes, Uiirteen and sixpence. Leather 
inferior to what is used in England, owing to bad tamiing. 

'' What is the price of beef i" — Prime pieces eight- 
pence, per pound. 

" What is the price of beer V^ — rSevenpence per quart, 
(wine measure.) 

^' What is the price of bread?"— Sevenpence, per 
loaf, weighing thirty-four ounces. 

" What is the price of buck wheat flour ?^' — Fifteen to 
eighteen shillings, per barrel. 

'' What is the price of fish?"— Cheaper than in Eng-» 
Ijand, except salmon, and turbot, of which the prime 
is scarce, the latter is unknown m the American mar- 
kets. 

" Wliat is the price of fruit?" — Apples, cheap, good, 
and plentiful. Blackberries, three pence per quart* 
Cherries small and dear. Currants, not so plentiful as 
in England. Damsons, the size of English sloes, very 
scarce, sixpence per quart. Egg-plumbs, sixpence per 
clozen. Gooseberries, very inferior to the English, and 
dearer, Grapes in this state, Jersey, and the New-r 
England states, do not come to perfection, in conse- 
quence of the extremes of cold and heat. They ^re only 
lit to make pies and puddings, and are by no meaus 
plentiful. Lemons, dearer than in England. Both musk 
a|id water melons are very cheap, good and wholesome, 
fhe latter pj^rticularly so, I have bought musk melons as 



23 

large as any that grow in England, for sevenpence each, 
and water melons, the handsomest fruit in the world 
when cut open, and to me the most delicious eating, as 
large as a common sized pumpkin, for ninepence. Mul- 
berries are poor insipid fruit, I have seen them grow but 
never saw any in the market. Nectarines, are common 
in England, but rare in America. Good oranges, six- 
pence each. Peaches come to perfection in Pennsylva- 
nia, and to the south of it, but not to the north or east 
of it. In the New-England states, together with the 
states of Jersey and New-York, the peaches are not 
larger than the Orlean plumbs in England. I am told 
by farmers in those states, that the peaches some years 
since, were as large and as well flavoured as in Pennsyl- 
vania, but that a small worm novv invariably destroys 
the trees before they come to maturity. Pears, cheap and 
good. Raspberries, small, tasteless, and dear, being sold 
^r sixpence a half pint pottle. Strawberries, plentiful, 
but very mferior to the English. One species of which 
I would name, as you in England considered it superior t© 
the rest, both in size and taste, but for fear of offending the 
delicate ear of the Americans, who associate the most 
iilthy calling performed by the " negroes'"^ in this city, 
with the name of that delicious fruit. 

'' What is the price of mutton?'' — Four pence half- 
penny, per pound. 

*' What is the price of pork ?"— Seven pence to nine 
pence, per pound. 

'^ What is the price of poultry V^ — Ducks, four shil- 
lings a pair, geese, from four to five shillings each, tur- 
kies six and nine pence each. Fowls from two and three 
pence, to three and sixpence. That butter which is 
eatable, sells at from one and sixpence to two shillings 
and sixpence per pound. 

^' What are the wages of journeymen in different 
trades V — A book-binder has from one pound eleven 
and sixpence to one pound sixteen shillings per week, 
on extra work, two pounds and sixpence. Boot makers, 
generally work by the piece, their best prices are as fol- 
lows : — military boots, one pound eleven and sixpence, 
per pair. Brown top boots ^ I said before, are not 
jnuch wore in America^ except by Quakers and coacb-^ 



24 

men ; an old experienced boot maker inforhied m@^ one 
man would not be half employed to make all the top- 
boots worn in the state of New- York ; the price, how- 
ever, is one pound three and sixpence the pair. Wel-i 
lington boots, thirteen and sixpence. Shoes five an I six- 
pence the pair. Those are the best prices paid, and none 
but prize workmen get them. The common price is 
about half the above. 

Bricklayers and masons are here the same ; their 
wages are from five to six shillings and ninepence per 
diem, three months in the winter they are idle, which 
reduces their boasted high wages to less than bricklayers 
receive in England. 

Braziers receive from four and sixpence to five and 
sevenpence halfpenny per diem. 

Cabinet makers, who work by the piece, while in em- 
ployment, average their earnings at seven and sixpence 
per day, for they are unemployed near one quarter of the 
year, in consequence of the great number of apprentices 
and dulness of trade. 

Carpenters, per day, from five and sevenpence to seven 
and threepence, the first they get when working as jour- 
neymen to master, or as they are styled '' boss'^ car- 
penters, when they get the last price per day, it is by 
gentlemen employing them on their own account when 
a regular tradesman is dispensed with. 

Coach body makers, receive nine shillings per day, 
carriage makers the samC; coach harness makers five and 
seven pence, coach painters, six and nine pence, coach 
smiths, seven and ten penc«, coach trimmers six and 
ninepence, and coach wheelers, from four and sixpence 
to five and sevenpence per day* 

Compositors, obtain from one pound eleven and six^ 
pence to two pounds and sixpence per week. 

Coopers, are paid by the piece, and their prizes are so 
low, that at any part of the business they cannot earn 
more than six and ninepence per diem, or two pounds 
and sixpence per week ; however, they can obtain better 
wages south of Pennsylvania, or in the West Indies. 
Journeymen in this trade, if sober, and good workmen, 
never need be unemployed. 

Cotton and calico, we^vVcrs, are principally era- 



2^ 

ployed lb Uie stat^ of Rhode- 1 gland, wli^re there ar« 
about one hundred cotton manufactories, and at 
Patterson, on the banks of the Passaic river, in the 
state of New- Jersey: I resided in this state betweeijt 
three and four months, at a Dutch settlement, called 
Preakness, and while there, I have seen the poor weavers 
come to the farm houses, and implore the women to buy 
the pieces they have been employed at, thus hawking the 
work they have done to obtain a livelihood^ their em- 
ployers being unable to pay their journeymen in any 
other manner than letting them have as payment part 
q£ the work, 

Dyers are generally engaged by the month, tlieir 
board, lodging, and washing being included in their wages^ 
which are from six to twelve dollars per month, or from 
one pound seven to two pounds fourteen shillings ster-? 
ling. 

Lace and fringe makers ; get about four and sixpence 
per diem. 

Sadlers, from four and sixpence to five and sevenpence 
per diem. 

Ship builders^ or carpenters, best hands, two pounds 
fourteen shillings per week, (See note B.) for building 
an American ship of any size. 

Taylors generally work by the piece; and they com- 
monly receive for making a close bodied coat from fifteen 
and nine pence to one pound two and sixpence ; the w o- 
men make pantaloons, trowsers and vests, the men make 
nothing but coats and surtouts. 

Tinmen's wages, are the same as those of braziers* 

Turners ; — As you wish to receive a minute statement 
of this tre^de, I have bought " the prices of turning as 
agreed to by the New- York Turners Society, June 10*, 
1817," from which I will extract the prices of some 

work, for the information of your friend C — who 

thinks, I am told, of selling his business and emigrating 
to this country. 

" Balusters for stairs, plain, per piece, three pence 
farthing. 

Ditto, fancy, per piece, sixpence to fourteen pence. 

Chimney columns, from three and half to five inches 
4hm, per piece, three and Iburpence. 



36 

Columns twelve feet long, twelve indies diam. eighteen 
shillings per piece. 

Bed posts, maple, five feet to five feet three inches long, 
four and sixpence per sett. 

Ditto, fancy pattern, thirteen and sixpence, per sett. 

Crooked-back chair legs, tenpenco, per piece. 

Blind tassel blocks, per gross, one pound seven shil- 
lings. 

Banding blocks, for hatters, per piece, ten pence. 

Cornices, per piece, for gilders, five feet long, four 
inch. diam. two and three pence. 

Book-binders screws, three inches diam. eleven and 
three pence, per pair. 

Beams for weavers, six inches diam. sixpence per foot. 

Apothecary's, pine mortars, wood included, ten inches 
and under, per inch, tenpence. 

Copper-plate printers, or saddle-press rollers, per inch, 
in length, thirteen pence. 

Gauge screws, per piece, sixpence three farthings. 

Large stenchions, between decks, four and sixpence, 
per piece. 

Grape shot patterns, sixpence three farthings, per ball. 

Splinter bars for coaches, thirteen pence halfpenny, per 
piece. 

Table legs, large, one and eight pence, per piece. 

Tinmen's mallets, thirteen pence, per piece." 

The above are the prices agreed on by the Bosses 
and journeymen last year. You will draw the natural 
conclusion tliat the workmen receive these wages — they 
do not. As proof, I asked the principal master-turner in 
this city, what he would charge me for one cornice five 
feet long^ and four inches diameter, he replied four shil- 
lings currency ; which is exactly two shillings and three 
pence sterling, out of which he receives a profit, and ma- 
terially lessens the wages of the men ! This is not all the 
proof which I will give you ; the men are never paid their 
full earnings, either w^orking by the piece or by the day, 
or w'eekly ; they settle generally once or twice a year, 
the bill is then brought in, and a deduction of from ten ta 
twenty per cent is made, for " ready, money !!!'' Ifth^ 
workman is dicssatisfied he is welcome to leave, as there 
are plenty ^yoiild -^be glad of the place.'* Should the poor 



2r 

fellow leave and sue for what was deducted, the justifica- 
tion is, " I guess as how we always do it when we pay 
casli, when bill's delivered." The swindled though honest 
journeyman is non- suited with expences, and what is 
more the whole trade know it, and no " boss^* will em- 
ploy a man who has sued for his wages. This is not ex- 
clusively practised by the turners. It is an universal 
system pursued by ^* bosses^'' in the different trades. 

You doubtless will laugh at the name of " Boss*^ for 
an employer. It is a Dutch name signifying mas- 
ter. But it does not comport with a white Ameri- 
can to call another master in plain English (I hep, par- 
don, I should have said in the " American language,") so 
they substitute this word '' Boss^' from a language the 
most uncouth ; to express the term master or employer. 
Bankers, lawyers and store keepers clerks, make use of 
the word in all parts of the country, as well as journey^ 
men and labourers. The black American styles his 
owner w ho possesses only a few shades of lighter colour, 
master, — strangers " BossJ^ 

Weavers, when landed here, find the greatest difficulty 
of obtaining employment, and when they get it, before 
they begin w ork they have to buy their own bobbins, 
brushes, lathe, loom, reeds and shuttles ; which cost one 
third more here than in England, and to pay the rent of 
the shop. Their earnings are never more than one pound 
eleven and sixpence ppr week, out of which, besides the 
deduction mentioned above, they have to pay for board 
and lodging, which they cannot have for less than fifteen 
and ninepence per week, washing not included, and then 
they generally sleep in a room containing, perhaps, five 
or six beds with a bed-fellow, even during this hot wea- 
ther : — my thermometer last night at twelve o'clock, iu 
my bed room, was at one hundred and three degrees 
above zero ; this roorn is the coolest in the house which is 
witliin three hundred yards of the Hudson river, in Pro- 
vost-street. To sleep on a feather bed now is impossible. 

Fancy weavers, by emigrating to America, are wretch- 
edly off, as there is no such work done here : what little 
weaving there is, is coarse work, such aa in England old 
decrepid men and women, boys and girls are put too. 

The above is as correct infonnation as can be obtained 



28 

on those, subjects ; to collect it, I have been at considera- 
ble trouble, by going to diflferent farmers and tradesmen, 
(all native born Americans) to make the necessary en- 
quiries. It will be seen immediately, that in some trades 
the workmen in America have greater wages than those 
of the same trade in England. It will also be seen pro- 
visions are something cheaper, but never so nutritious as 
in England. Rents are greater than in England, taxes, 
tythes, and poor's rates included. Clothes of every des- 
cription dearer. Health more precarious, and I am at 
last driven to the conclusion, that labourers and me- 
chanics by emigrating to this country will not improve 
their situation in a pecuniary point of view, the difficulty 
of obtaining employment being as great as in England, 
and much more so to obtain money. 

It is a practice among the journeymen in the States of 
Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania to " go south" in 
autumn, that is, to Charleston, New Orleans, Richmond, 
and Savannah, there" to winter" and return the ensuing 
spring. I have seen schooners and ships loaded with 
these itinerant workmen sail out of the port of New York, 
and though they make greater wages by " going south" 
than remaining north, all they make extra is taken up by 
the expence of their passages backwards and forwards. 
Sometimes they experience great trouble and meet with 
losses ; for instance, a man has a misunderstanding with 
his employer, or he is liked, and his employer wishes 
him to remain, as his business requires more men to exe- 
cute it, than he has, during what themselves admit the 
^ unhealthy months ;" either of these causes will prompt 
the employer to " be ugly," that is, he will not pay 
without being sued, which takes up time, and in that 
season of the year it is dangerous to stay, this the 
employer knows, and many a poor devil is thus swindled 
out of his hard earned money, and, should he remain till 
the issue of the action, his life too often pays the costs. 

A mechanic who has lived in comfort in Europe can- 
not be comfortable here ; if a single man he has to reside 
at a boarding house, where comfort is a stranger, where 
meat and vegetables, indifterent as they are, are made , 
disagreeable by bad cooking, negro ^* ivenches^^ be- 
)jpg the cooks. In the eookiiig of vegetables they ar^ 



too often disgustingly filthy, boiling al^sorta in one pot, 
with either beef or pork. 1 may be thought to be preju- 
diced, and I have often been called so, for disliking cab- 
bage-plants, savoys, or brocoli, unless brought to table 
as green as they grew, they are brought up as yellow 
gallimaufry here. This fault I can always see, and 
often mention, it is universal. 

An European in winter will be more uncomfortable 
than in summer ; and to exist through a winter he must 
be well clad, and have plenty of food and drink, or he 
will for ever femember a wmter's residence in America* 
No varied social amusements in pleasant companies as in 
England during a long dreary winter's evening. Reading 
stimulants (if I may use the expression) to superstition, 
and singing hymns and psalms, constitute the evening's 
amusement in an American's family. 

I trust that you, after I have thus shown the eiTects of 
emigration to the labouring classes, will give up the idea 
of crossing the Atlantic, and settling here. You have 
now a good house, a good business, and an excellent 
connection, by emigrating you will lose each, and all 
you do and may possess. Stay ! my good Sir, stay ! never 
leave England. 1 am a daily witness of the wretched- 
ness of hundreds of our countrymen and women, many 
of whom like yourself were in Europe, in respectable 
circumstances. Go to the docks in London, Liverpool, 
and Bristol, and enquire of those multitudes who came 
to this country with high, wilh sanguine expectations, 
and are now returned with broken spirits and empty 
pockets, ask them their opinion of the writers by whom 
they have been persuaded to leave England, and they 
will tell you that they have a deep rooted disgust for 
those who have either directly or indirectly encouraged 
emigration to the United States. To expose the folly 
and wickedness of these writers shall be the aim of, Sir, 
your Well-wisher, 

WILLIAM CLARK, 



0*^r*r't^^f^*'*r-t^^^ 



90 



LETTER III. 



AMERICAN MORALITY AND RELIGION ! 

Provost- Street y N&iv York, Sep. 1, 1818, 

JDear ■- 

Before I took leave of my country and friends, I 
eulogized in strains of enthusiasm America, and every 
thing American. This, was very natural in one devoid of 
practical experience, who had been fired into rapture by 
the histories of the Grecian and Roman RepubUcs, 
who felt there was a charm in the name, and who asso- 
ciated every thing magnanimous and noble with the cha- 
racter of a Republican. 

America being a Republic, having thrown off the yoke 
of kingly tyranny, and havmg declared in the open face of 
day before God and man, that she was independent, and 
that all mankind were born equal, I naturally drew 
the conclusion that Americans would inherit all the noble 
qualities of the Athenians and Romans, and that with 
their examples before them, serving as a beacon to warn 
them of their vices, and keep a watchful eye on the am- 
bitious and presuming, to see that the true spirit of 
liberty and republicanism, was not destroyed bj' the 
minds of the people being prejudiced with superstitious 
rites and ceremonies. And farther, that the histories of 
the different nations in Europe would furnish them lessons 
of sad experience to shun times like the present, as the 
most inimical to freedom, when parties are seen amalga- 
mating with each other only to prostrate freedom and rob 
the people of their inheritance. 

The glorious spirit which actuated the brave patriots 
of the revolution, is dead. In lieu of that honest indig- 
nation at tyranny, which in 1776 was the characteristic of 
the people, gambling and superstition have erected and 
established their dominion over the heads and hearts of 
the Americans. Gain, interest; and religion, are inces- 



31 



lEaiitiy in their mouths ; they are their alpha and omega, 



their first aiid last thoughts^ 



o 



/, 



From people of this description, your knoTi^ledge of 
the human heart must tell you hypocrisy and meanness 
will predominate with immorality and vice. As great a 
revolution in the manners and morals of the Americans 
has taken place in the few years since the revolution, as 
has been produced in Italy in half as many centuries. — 
The present race, who inhabit home, may be termed 
living automata, compared with the republican Romans 
antecedent to the Christian ^Era. So the present race 
of people in this country are speculating tmders of the 
worst description. Principle they have none, unless it 
be to swindle all the unsuspecting and credulous, who 
unfortunately have dealings with thera. 

Gambling to erect places of religious devotion, is here 
as common as the " sun at noon day.'' In proof read 
over the following lottery advertisements, and take notice 
that separate acts of the Legislative assemblies, composed 
of the real representatives of the people, were passed to 
" authorise'' lotteries for this specific purpose. 

" GEORGETOWN EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

Poo?* and Orp/ian House Lottery. 
A Lottery, authorised by an act of the Legislature of 
the state of »South Carolina, for repairing the Episcopal 
Church, and building a Poor and Orphan House iii 
Georgetown, S. C. 

SCHEME. 

Dollars 
1 Prize of ....... 50,000 

1 do. of . 20,000 

1 do. of 10,000 

2 Prizes of . . 5000 is . . 10,000 
8 do. of . . 1000 . . - 8,000 
4 do. of . . 500 ... . 2,000 

16 do. of . . 100 . . . 1,600 
968 do. of ... 50 ... . 48,400 

1001 Prizes. 150,000 

1999 Blanks. 



3000 Tickets, at Fifty Dollars each^ 150,000 



The Following Prizes will be sfatmiarij. 
The first drawn Ticket willbe entitled to 5000 dolls., 
to be paid in 100 tickets, from x\o. lOOL to 1100, both 
teclusive. 

1st drawn ^Ticket on the 
2d day*s drawing, entitled to lOOt) 
M do. do. 500 

4ch do. do. 5000 

(to be paid in 100 tickets from l20I to ISO!, both in- 
clusive) 
5th day's drawing entitled to 1,000 
6th do. do. 10,000 

7th do. do. 1,000 

8th do. do. 50,000 

AH the Prizes subject to A deduction of 15 per cent, 
payable sixty-days alter the completion ' of the drawing, 
at the office of discount and deposit of the United States 
bank at Charleston ; or at the branch of the state of 
South Carolina, in Georgetown. 

*^* The drawing will positively commence on the 
first Monday in June, and be completed in eight draw-^ 
ings. All prizes not claimed within six-monlhs after-" 
wards, will be considered as donations to the Church, 
Cominissioners, 
T!lleland Kinlock, | Benjamin Utiger, 
John L. Wilson I Aaron Marvin, 

Thomas Carr j Honry Denison. 

Jacob Meers | 

All letters addressed to the Commissioners for tickets 
or information must be post paid. 
Georgetown^ S, C, 1818* 

*^5.* Tickets m the above Lottery to be had at th^ 
Counting-house of Messrs. Isaac Course and Son." 



" Presbyterian Church Lottery, 

CLASS 4th. 

2500 Tickets at 12dolls. 30,000 

1 Prize of ... 7000 

1 do. of * , . 3000 



^3 



« 1 Priz« of :: 


, 






1000 DoUs, 


6 do. 


of 500 dolls. 


3000 


6 do. 


of 250 




1500 


6 do. 


of 150 




900 


8 do. 


of 100 




800 


10 do. 


of 50 




«00 


26 do. 


of 40 




1040 


38 do. 


of 20 




760 


750 do. 


of 14 

es amounting to 






10,500 


853 Priz 




30,000 dolls. 


1647 Blanks^ not two Blanks to a 


L Prize 


2500 Tkfkets at 12 dolls. 


30,000 dolls. 


The following Prizes will he stationary 


The first drawn Blank will be / 
entitled to a Prize of 5 


1000 dolls. 


Do. after 200 Numbers are ( 


irawii 500 


Do. 


- 500 do. 


. 500 


Do. 


- 750 do. 






dOO 


Do. 


- 1000 do. 






. 500 


Do. 


- 1300 do. 






3000 


Do. 


- 1600 do. 






. 500 


Do. 


- 2000 do. 






. 500 


Do. 


- 2400 do. 








. 7000 



*' The Prizes will be paid in 60 days after the conclu- 
sion of the drawing, subject to a deduction of 15 per 
cent. ; but prizes of ever^ aescriptioii, not demanded 
Trithin six months, will be considered as given to the 
Church, 

^^ Tickets may be had of either of the Commissioners, 
&nd at the City Treasurer's and City Sheriff's Offices. 

Commissioners. 
STEPHEN THOMAS, Chairman. 



John Geddes, 
Daniel Stevens, 
John Robinson, 
Wm. Smith, 
Thomas Milliken. 



Thomas Fiemming^ 
James Adger, 
Rich'd, Cunningham, 
Geo. Macaulay, jun. 
Wm. Roach, 



34 

Wm. Walton, Wm. Aikerij 

Tacitus G, Skrinej George Miller, 
Wni. Thompson, Wm. Yeadon. 
April 11 1 am 

Southern Patriot^ Charlestqn (S. C.)^* 

LOTTERY NOTICE, 

BY THE (COMMISSIONERS. 

April 28^ 1818. 
A list of Laivs authorizing Lotteries by the Legisla-- 
lure of Maryland, 

Dec, mth, 1795, chap, 72. 

An act authorizing a lottery in Hav re-de-Grace for 
the purpose therein mentioned — for erecting two public 
wharfs— -By a supplement passed Jan. 8th, 1803, the 
commissioners are authorized to build a church, parsonage 
house, and market house. 

Dec, %Mi, 1796, chap, 14. 

An act to enable the vestry of Christ church parish, 
in Calvert county, to sell and dispose of certain lands 
therein mentioned, for the purpose of finishing their 
church. 

Jan, Ibth,, 1799, ^hap, 69. 

An act to authorize Richard Tilghman and others of 
Queen Anne's county, to raise by lottery a sum of mo- 
ney, to reimburse them for money expended on St. 
Paul's parish, lying in Quoon Annc'o and Talbot coun- 
ties. * 



* Richard Tilghman and " others referred to in the third and 
fortieth laws, are no doubt lowly, meek and pious souls, and would 
make admirable members of Ihe '* Vice Suppression Society'* in 
England. They build churches and are paid by the proceeds of 
gambling, while the " Vice Society'* persecute and prosecute for 
mere matter of opinion honest industrious, individuals and yet 
encourage the erection of a scaffold on the sabbath, in a public 
situation, where five seduced unfortunate men have been — what ? — 
I suppose I must say executed ** according to law," though it is 
believed they were the dupes of one screened, if not Vewar*3d, by 
that government, which by a great portion of Americans is called, 
and considered the *♦ Bulwark of Religioa and Liberty*" 2d May 
1820. ^ ■ 



35 

Jan. Sth, IS03, chap. ^l. 
, An act authorizing the trustees and other members 
of the German catholic church in the precincts of BaU 
timore to raise a sum of mon^y by lottery for finishing 
said church. 

Jan. 8th, 1803, chap. 87. 
An act authorizing a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for the finishing Washington academy in Somerset county, 
and for the purpose of purchasing the necessary apparatus, 
and for other objects of improvement. 

Jan. 8th, 1803, chap. 88. 
An act to authorize the drawing of certain lotteries 
within the city of Baltimore, to enable the elders, dea- 
cons and trustees of the German reformed congregation 
to finish their church. 

Jan. 8th, 1803, chap. 88. 
An act to authorize the drawing of certain lotteries 
within the city of Baltimore, to enable the trustees of the 
Roman catholic church to finish their church. 
Jan. Sth, 1803, chap. 90. 
An act to authorize the drawing of certain lotteries 
within the city of Baltimore, to enable the trustees of 
the Baptist congregation (on Fell's jPoint) to finish their 
church. 

Jan. 8th, 1803, chap. 90. 
An act authorizing a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for the purpose of finishing the protestant episcopal church 

in Elizabeth town, in WaaLington county. 

Dec. ^Ist, 1803, chap. 3. 
An act authorizing a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for finisjiing a house of public worship in Baltimore 
county. 

_, * Dec. Zlst, 1803, chap. 7, 

r. An act to authorize a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for the purpose of finishing the Roman catholic church 
in Fredericktown, in Frederick county. 
Dec. Zlst, 1803, chap. 8. 
An act authorizing a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for the purpose of finishing a house of worship at Ephe<« 
sus, in Coecil county. 

Dec. 3ls#, 180S, chap. 9. 
An act authorizing a lottery to raise a sum of money 
D 2 ■ 



36 

for the purpose of defraying the expense accruing in Ih-i 
building a house of worship in the town of Emmitsburgh 
in Frederick county. 

Dec. ^Ist, 1803, chap, 10. 
An act authorizing a lottery for raising a sum of mo- 
ney to repair a church and erect a parsonage house in 
Coecil county. 

Dec. 316^5 1803, chap. 13. 
An act authorizing a lottery to raise a sum of money 
lo finish the baptist frame meeting house in Baltimore 
county. 

Dec. ^Ut, 1803, chap. 27. 
An act authorizing certain lotteries within the city of 
Baltimore, for the purpose of aiding the funds of the im- 
partial free school. 

Dec. ^\st, 1803, chajy. 27. 
An act authorizing certain lotteries within the city of 
Baltimore, to raise a sum of money for the second pres- 
ibyterian church. 

Dec. ZUt, 1803, chap. 35. 
An act authorizing a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for the purpose of finishing the German Lutheran and 
German presbyterian church in Woodbury , in Frede- 
rick count} , 

Jan. Kth, 1804, chap. 43. 
An act authorizing a lottery to rai^e a sum of money 
for repairing Shrewsbury church in Kent county. 
Jan. lih^ 1604, chap. 107. 
An act to authorize a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for the purpose of repairing the protestant episcopal 
church in AU-Iiallows parish in Anne Arundel county. 
Jan. \Wi, 1805, chap. 104. 
An act to authorize the vestry of St. Paul's parish in 
Baltimore county, to draw a lottery within the city of 
Baltimore. 

Jan. 2bth, 1806, chap. 72. 
An act authorizing a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for the pui-pose of rebuilding the steeple of the Germar^ 
reformed church in Fredericktown, in Frederick county. 
Jan- 25^/?, 1806, chap. 74. 
An act to authorize the drawing of a lottery within 
the city of Baltimore, for the purpose therein mentioned ^ 
fiz. for the benefit of the Key. Samuel Juiox, 



Jan, 26ih, 1806, chap. 86. 
An act to authorize the drawing of a lottery for the 
heupjit. of Sf. Man/s College in Baltimore county. 
Jan- nth, 1806, chap. 102. 
An act authorizing a lottery for raising a sum of mo- 
ney, for repairing St* George's church on Deer creek in 
Harford county. 

Jan. 21th, 1806, chap. 104. 
An act to authorize the elders and trustees of the Ger- 
man evangelical reformed church in Baltimore county, to 
draw a lottery within the city of Baltimore. 
Dec. 31, 1S06, chap. 15. 
An act authorizing a lottery for raising a suiii of mo- 
ney, for the rector and vestry of St. Thomas' Parish in 
Baltimore county. 

Jan. Ath, 1807, c^mp. 82, and Jan. I8th^ 1810, 
chap. 33. 
An act authorizing a lottery in the city of Baltimore, 
to raise a sum of money for the use of Trinity church, 
Jan. 15///, 1818, chap. 17. 
An act authorizing a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for the purpose of finishing the steeple of St. John's 
church, in Elizabeth town, Washington county. 
.Ian. 29^/i, 1808, chap. 84 and Dec. 27th, 1811. 
An act authorizing a lottery to raise a sum of money 
to build a church in Charles county; 

Jan. 20th, 1818, chap. 87. 
An act authoriiiing a loTiery lo raise a sum of money 
for the vestry of St. John*s parish in Harford and Balti* 
more counties, 

Jan. 20th, 1808^ chap. 90. 
An act to authorize a lottery to raise a sum of money 
to purchase a lire engine, Eind Jinish the church in West- 
minster town in Frederick county. 

Jan. 20th. 1808, Ma;?. 102. 
An act to authorize a lottery to raise a siuil of money 
for the purpose of finishing the Elkton academy, pur- 
chasing philosophical apparatus for the sdnie, 
Jan. 20th, 1808^ chap^ 111. 
An act authorizing the drawing of a lottery for the 
benefit of the College of medicine of Maryland, 
Jan. 20th, 1808, chap. 137. 
An act authorizing th(^ ;iale of 500 tickets in ^ lottery^ 



3S 

in the slate of Pennsylvania^ for the encouragement ^^ 
the useful arts ! 

Dec. 2mk, 1808, chap. 27. 
An act autliorizing a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for the purpose of rebuilding Benjamin church, in Fre- 
derick county, formerly known by the name of Cryder's 
church. 

Dec. 20th, 1808, chap. 29. 
An act authorizing a lottery to raise a s^ of money 
for the purpose of repairing the church therein men- 
tioned, for the use of the Jerusalem church » 
Dec. 20, 1808, chap. 31. 
An act authorizing a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for the purpose of repairing the parsonage house, and 
the church belonging to the German evangelical lutheran 
congregation in Frederick Town, in Frederick county. 
Dec. 24th, 1808, chap. 109. 
An act to authorize a lottery to raise a sum of money, 
for building a church for the use of the German lutheran 
and presbyterian congregations in or near the village of 
Boonsborough in Washington county. 

Jan. 6thy 1810, chap. 8. 
An act to authorise a lottery in Frederick county for 
the finishing of the house of worship in Liberty Town. ^ 
Jan. 6th, 1810, chap. 75. 
An act to authorise a lottery or lotteries in Frederick 
county, for the purpose of purchasing a lot of ground 
and erecting thereon ci building for a place of divine wor- 
ship, and a school, adjacent to the Union mills. 
Jan. 6th, 1810, chap. 113. 
An act respecting a tnemorial or statute to the me-- 
tnory of Washington. 

Jan. 6th, 1810, chap. 128. 
An act authorising a lottery for the preservation 
and distribution of the vaccine tnatter for the use of 
the Citizens of this state. 

Jan. 6th, 1810, chap. 142. 
An act authorising a lottery for raising a sum of 
money, to remunerate Richard Tilgham and others for 



* Above half the population of this town are slaves 



39 

cash expended in building a chureh in Queen Anne's 
eounty. 

Jan, nth 1810. chap, 132. 
An act to authorise a lottery fol" repairing the church 
in the village of Jerusalem in Washington county. 
Jan, Wi, 1810, chap, 170, and Dec, 23, 1810, 
cAap. 27. 
An act to authorise a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for repairing the protestant episcopal church in the city of 
Amiapolis. 

Jan. 8th, 1810, chap. 201. 
An act to authorise a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for building a church for the use of St. Margaret's West- 
minster Parish, in Anne Arundel county. 
Dec. 23, 1810, chap. 40. 
An act to authorize a lottery for purchasing a house 
and lot, for a clergyman of the German Presbyterian 
congregations at Emmitsburg, &c. 

Dec. 26thj 1811^ chap. 19. 
An act to authorise the drawing of a lottery or lotte» 
ries in Middle Town in Frederick county, for the pur- 
pose of building a steeple to the new church and for the 
purcliase of bells, 

Dec. 27th, 1811, chap. 82. 
An act to authorize a lottery, for the purpose of finish- 
ing the Lutheran and Presbyterian churches in Boonsbo- 
rough in Washington county, and for building a school 

house and purohaoiiig a fire pngine. 

Dec. 27th, 1811, chap. 19. 
An act to authorize a lottery or lotteries in the city 
of Baltimore, for the purpose of finishing the Roman 
Catholic Cathedral. 

Dec. 15, 1812, chap. 73. 
An act authorizing a lottery to raise a sum of moneys' 
to purchase a lot of ground in Coxes' Town in Balti- 
more county and to erect a building thereon to be used 
as a school-house, and Methodist meeting-house. 
Dee. 17 th, 1812 chap. 81. 
An act authorizing a lottery for raising a sum of money 
to build a church in the town of Cumberland in Alleghany 
county. 

Dec. 23, 1812, chap. 125. 
An act to authorize a lottery to raise a sum of money 



40 

for Ihe purpose of completing the Lutheran church ia 
Middle Town in Frederick county. 

Dec. 16, 1813. chap. 1. 
An act authorizing a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for the purpose of completing the German Lutheraa 
church in Taney Town in Frederick county, and for 
other purposes. 

Jan. 2Bth, 1818, chap. 137. 
An act to authorise a lottery for finishing and complet- 
ing the Protestant Episcopal church in Frederick 
Town. 

Dec. Uth, 1815, chap. 8. 
An act authorizing a lottery for raising a sum of money 
for the purpose of purchasing a lot of ground, and erect- 
ing thereon a building for Divine Worship in Frederick 
county, 

Dec. SOth, 1815, chap. 29. 
An act Authorising a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for the purpose of completing St. Lucas's reformed church 
in Frederick county. 

Dec. mth^ 1815. chap. 30. 
An act authorizing the drawing of a lottery for the 
benefit of the Surgical Institution at Baltimore. 
Jan. 4th^ 1816, chap. 47. 
An act authorizing a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for the purpose of repairing the Presbyterian and Luthe- 
ran church in Emmitsburg, in Frederick county. 

Jrrn. 96M, lftl6^ oJictja. 160. 

An act authorizing a lottery for rai&ing a sum of 
money to build a church in St Mark's parish, in Frede- 
rick county. 

Jan. TSth, 1816, chap. 186. 

An act authorizing a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for completing an Episcopal church in Baltimore county. 
Dec. 31, 1816, chap. 24. 

An act authorizing a lottery for raising a sum of 
money to repair the churches in King and Queen's 
parish in St. Mary's county, and to build a glebe. ^' 



* This expression is somewhat doubtful in il* nature — but it if 
a true copy. 



41 

Jan.Sciy ISn.chap. 42. 
Ah act authorizing a lottery for raising a ssum of 
money to buy a lot of ground in Frederick-town in 
Frederick county, and build a church and parsonage 
house thereon. 

Jan, I5th, 1817, chap, 86. 
An act authorizing a lottery to raise a sum of money 
for the purpose of completing a school house and pur- 
chasing church bells in the town of Boonsborough in 
Washington county. 

Jan, I6M5 1817, chap, 90. 
An act authorizing a lottery for raising a sum of 
money to build an impartial academy and free church in 
or near Tane\ town, in Frederick county. 
^Jan, 27thy 1818, chap, 125. 
An act to authorize the raising a sum of money by 
lottery to aid in erecting a church in Charles countv. 
Feb. 5th^ 1817, chap, 268. 
An act authorizing a lottery or lotteries for the pur- 
pose of purchasing a public library^ and establishing 
and endowing a free school in Prince George^s 
county. 



Does the reading of this ^^ rehgious intelligence^' redden 
your cheeks with shame for the only nation of misnamed 
republicans in the world ? Should it produce no severe 
sensation, I think thf» following will not only rouse your 
indignation, but will change your respect for the Ameri- 
can character into contempt, perhaps hatred. The sub- 
ject is the refusal of one state to acquiesce with another 
in erecting a monument to the memory of Washington ? 
Yes Washington, the idolized Washington, he who fouo-ht 
some of the battles in defence of independence, has "no 
monuments erected to his memory but from the pro- 
ceeds of gambling, and so ungrateful is one state (New 
York) that they have not only refused to erect a monu- 
ment themselves to perpetuate his fame, but positively 
by law prohibited the sale of lottery tickets, to prevent 
people, of the state of Maryland, as far as possible, from 
evincing their attachment to his memory. Read the 
*' Report" submitted to the legislature of New York by 
Dr. JNlitchell. 



m 

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, March 19, 1810. 

Washington's monument. 

Dr. Mitchell, from the select committee, to whom was 
referred the memorial of the Managers of the lottery for 
raising one hundred thousand dollars to erect a monu- 
ment to the memory of the late Gen. Washingaon, made 
the following report— 

'^ It appears that the attempts were, sometime since, 
made to raise by subscription a sum of money sufficient 
to erect at Baltimore, in Maryland, a monument to the 
memory of the late illustrious George Washington. 
These efforts were unsuccessful. But the public spirited 
gentlemen who engaged in the undertaking were not 
discouraged. They applied to the legislature for a 
lottery, enabling them to raise in this way the requisite 
sum. This was immediately granted. They find how- 
ever, some impediments to the sale of their tickets 
from the restrictions imposed by law in several of the 
states. 

" Among others, the populous and commercial state 
of New York, has a statute in force against private 
lotteries, and against all lotteries other than such as shall 
be authorized by its legislature. Unauthorized lotteries 
are declared to be common and public nuisances. The 
judges of the courts are required to charge grand juries 
to present them. Persons carryinjv them on are liable 
to a penalty of Ave hundred pounds. The sellers and 
buyers of tickets are respectively subjected to a penalty 
of ten pounds with costs. Adventurers are subjected to a 
forfeiture of their prizes : and informers are not merely 
exempted from all penalties, but even entitled to re- 
wards. 

" Aware of the forbiddance of the law, the memorial- 
ists apply to the legislature for a suspension of the sta- 
tute, so far as may be necessrry to allow the sale of tlieir 
tickets within the state of New York. 

" The object of their request, the erection of a magni- 
ficent monument to the memory of Washington, is urged 
■with forcible reasoning and patriotic feeling, as a sufficient 
inducement for the legislature to grant the prayer of their 
memorial. 

^' It may be questioned whether the modern extent of 



4^ 

printing and engraving lias not in a great degree supei 
ceded the use of monuments. Sculpture and painting 
may, in like manner, be considered as perpetuating the 
remembrance of great men, and of tlie events by which 
they are distinguished, without the aid of cestly archi- 
tecture. Busts and medals of Washington are already 
extant. Portraits of him are not imfrequent. Prints 
and copper plates are widely spread throug'h the civiKzed 
w^orld. And above all, the faithful statements of history, 
descending to posterity, and multiplying as they go, are 
the unperishable monuments of his feme. 

" Believing that the name of Washington is worthy 
of being cherished ajid revered, the committee view with 
satisfaction the exertions of authors and artists, within 
this nation and beyond its boundaries, to ensure to it all 
the duration which the condition of man permits. 

'^ Under these impressions, there may be strong doubts 
whether the construction of the contemplated monument 
at Baltimore, is necessary to spread or eternize the indes- 
tructabie renown of Washington* That, happily, is es- 
tablished upon a basis as firm and as broad as that of 
any person of the age in which he lived. 

" Highly estimatmg the undertaking of the memori- 
alists, and well persuaded that their design, when ac- 
complished, will redound to their credit, and be both 
honorable and ornamental to Baltimore, the committee 
trust that means will be found to carry it into execution. 
But fearing that th© evil^ accruing from the suspension 
of the law, will over balance the good to be expected 
therefrom, they submit their opinion to the house, in one 
distinct proposition ; to w it — 

" Resolved, That it is not expedient to enact a law, 
for enabling the memorialists to dispose of their lottery 
tickets in this state.'^ 

March 20. 

The House entered upon the consideration of the re- 
port of the select commi :ee on the memorial of the ma- 
nagers of the Maryland lottery, and after debating the 
same, agreed to a resoi ition, without a division. That 
the further consideration of the report be postponed to 
the first Tuesday in IMay next. This is virtually an 
agreement to the report of the committee, and a refusal 
to grant the prayer of the applicants.^' 



4i 

Wliat inconsistency in the people of New-York tJ 
erect in their city, a monument to perpetuate the name 
of Lawrence, a federal bravada, who with his crew sailed 
out of port, with the avowed purpose of taking the 
Shannon frigate, belonging to '-'the bullies of the ocean J' 
promising to return with her as a prize in " less than 
tw^o hours to dinner." The circumstanres which followed 
are well known, he was killed at the commencement of 
the action, his ship taken in fifteen minutes, and instead 
of the '^ stripes and stars of America flying over the 
union jack of England," the British captain took pos- 
session of the American vessel in presence of the people 
on shore, who had already anticipated the addition of 
another laurel to their brows, by the capture of Brooke. 
The family of Laurence is rewarded with a pension. 
His being killed in the prime of life is represented in 
Trinity church yard New- York, by a high monument 
with the top broken off. Washington is forgotten, or 
remembered only in words, mere emptt words, by tlie 
people of New- York, who would not countenance the 
perpetuation in remembmnce of his usefulness and pa- 
triotism, even by their favorite mode of gambling, a lot- 
tery. The people of Maryland however were not de- 
terred by the example of New -York, they have erected 
a monument from the proceeds of their lottery, the" 
scheme of w hich was as follows : — 

" 50,000 Dollars, 
" WASHINGTON MOyUMENT LLTTERY, 

NOW DRAWING. 

SCHEME. 

I prize of 50,000 dolls, is 50,000 dolls 

1 30,000 80,000 

1 20,000 20,000 

2 10,000 20,000 
a 6,000 15,00(3 

20 One Hundred Tickets. 

3 2,000 6,000 
14 LOOO 14,000 
30 500 15,000 
25 200 5,000- 



45 



60 


100 


5,000dolls. 


100 


50 


5,000 


500 


.20 


10,000 


1000 


15 


15,000 


10,000 


12 


120,000 



Not two Blanks to a Prize. 

Present price of Tickets 12 dolls. 

Orders for Tickets and Shares, received at 

JANSEiVS, 

Lottery Office and Book-Store, 

A'o. 15, Crag/iam Street^ 

Where a list of the drawing is regularly received and 
^. check book kept for the examination of all Tickets 
Gratis*/' Nov. 4. 

The refusal of the people of New- York to sanction 
the Washington Monument Lottery in Maryland, may be 
thought to emanate from pure motives, and it may be 
imagined that the inhabitants of this state were an ex- 
ception to the states generally in conscientiously opposing 
gambling. It is not so. It originated in their tory prin- 
ciples, for which the state has always been notorious from 
tlie time of the revolutionary war to this moment. From 
what I can learn, there has been and now is more lotteries 
in New -York than in any two states in the Union. There 
are now eight lotteries I think in this city alone, one of 
them is called the '' Medical Science Lottery !" They 
are therefore no less culpable than the other states in this 
respect, but infinitely morp> sn in pnmnraging this w'orst 
species of g^ambling, for purposes ip which their interest 
alone is served. When prin ciple independent of interest 
is spoken of, there is no stimulus for the '^ Yorker" to act. 

The selling of pews and seats by public auction is an 
every day practice. Advertisements of their being sold 
are m almost eveiy paper. 

Every emigrant must be surprised at seeing how com- 
pletely priest-ridden the people of this country are. In 
the state of New Jersey, and the five New England states 
it is unlawful to travel on a Sunday either on foot, on 
horseback, or in a carriage. In the state of New York 



* By referring to page 58, we aec on the authority of the Com- 
missioners of Lotteries, that the act authorizing the Washingtoc 
?lQni:;ii^j!l L'Jttcrv j^^iscd January 5lb, 18iO. 



46 

cLalus avd put aci'Oiss the streets to prevent riding, during 
Sunday past churches, chapels, and other reh'gious '• es- 
tablishments." In all states but Pennsylvania fairs are 
by law prohibited: and in Pennsylvania I believe there 
is but one in the year, and that is held by the '' high 
Dutchers" Germans. The law which prohibits fairs and 
shows, in this state I have not yet seen, but 1 have that 
of New-Jersey, and a most prejudiced mind must have 
conceived it, and a base majority must have voted it. 
However the people are subservient and they nourish it. 

I have no hesitation in saying, that no people calling 
themselves civilized, have so many foibles and vices as 
the present race of Americans, they are not equalled in 
superstition (or what is here called religion) and immo- 
rality, in pride and ignorance, in their boasted generosity 
and actual selfishness, by any nation whatever ; every 
superstitious folly finds its votaries in this ^^ most en- 
lightened country ;'' in fine, this " mo,st enlightened peo- 
ple" have the worst qualities of the Dutch, the English, 
the French, the Germans, the Irish, the Italians, tlie 
Scotch, and the Spaniards, but none of their good and 
amiable ones. They have not the simple neatness of the 
Dutch in their dress or their dwellings — ^the honesty of 
tJie English in their dealings, or honor in their conduct — 
the gaiety, learning and vivacity of the French — the 
hardihood of the Germans — the open generosity of the 
Irish — the fine taste for music, painting and sculpture of 
the Italian — the priirlAn+ ^oononny of thp Srolch, nor the 
friendship of the Spaniard. On the contrary, they are 
the reverse of what in Great Britain they are considered 
by the people. 

The man of reason and reflection will ask how should 
it be otherwise considering the most ignorant and op- 
pressed of Europe emigrate with an intention of remain- 
ing here ; and not one in ten thousand of liberal principles 
and polished manners leaves enlightened Europe for 
America, either for a transient or permanent resi- 
dence. There are some men who are so devoid of 
principle and truth, that after having left England, 
they endeavour to ingratiate themselves into the 
favour of the Americans by villifying England and 
every thing English: Thoae wretches who act in this 
manner^ are listened to at first, but only to hear what 



4r 

ihey have to say, and to be despised for having said it; 
for with all the faults and vices of the Americans, they 
have universally a thorough contempt for those foreigners 
who libel their native country. The New York Colum- 
bian of the twenty-fifth of last month contains a letter 
said to be written by a Mr. Cooper, late of Manchester, 
(England) stating that the " common people^^ are not 
^' so depraved in this country as in Great Britain — that 
" robberies are very rare f both these assertions are known 
untruths, and this Mr. Cooper either knew nothing of 
the people here, or he wilfully penned two falsehoods. 
1 hope for the sake of justice, if ever this base slanderer 
returns to Manchester, the spirited people of that town 
will remember him for thus insulting them, when he, 
coward like, could only do it in a foreign land, inhabited 
by a people proverbial for their hatred of the English 
name and character. 

An error the advocates of Reform fall into ?s to repre- 
sent America as a paradise, and every man in it a friend. 
In reasoning on the advantages of a free government 
they draw this conclusion : — That as America has been 
perfectly free for nearly half a century the people are pro- 
portionately happy and moral. That they are more 
happy I am not prepared to say, as I believe to be moral 
is to be happy, and that the people of this country are 
immoral in the extreme I am convinced. The word of 
an American is with caution believed even though his 
" honor'' were pledged in its varification. The cruelty 
with which the white American treats his brethren of a 
darker hue is revolting to humanity. Paternal and fi- 
lial aftection are here unknown. I have witnessed the 
sorrow of an English mother at her offspring being in the 
constant habit of seeing children repelling the counsels of 
their parents by abuse. Yes, by abuse ! for children 
partake as well of the same spirit as of the same man- 
ners which distinguish the Americans from all the i-est 
of the world. An urchin four or six years old, with a 
segar in his mouth, is certainly a pretty object for coun- 
sel to be bestowed on ; it is attended to for the moment 
to be laughed at among his playmates. Every English- 
man who has been in this country an attentive observer 
of the people, will acknowledge I have not exaggerated 
in stating them to be immoral and superistitious. 



48 

In conclusion, I must say the constitution and govern- 
ment of this country are really admirable, the people are 
represented as fully as possible but owing to the respect 
of priestcraft paid by all denominations, and their conse- 
quently beuig 

** As tenderly 'ed by the nose as asses are," 
Laws have been enacted through the apathy of the peo- 
pie to their political rights, disgraceful to republicans and 
diametrically opposite to those jusl and pure principles 
"which produced their constitution. The banking system 
is replete with fraud and robbery. That of England is 
purity itself in the comparison* The laws in eighteen 
states out of twenty-one, respecting creditor and debtor, 
are unjust in principle and effect; they encourage ro- 
guery and swindling to a degree unknown in Great 
Britain. In a letter to Mr. W. 1 intend to treat this 
subject at length, as also the absurdity of the idea that 
America will become a manufacturing country. 

I know it is thought little else than temerity in any 
Reformer to hint or speak disrespectfully of this country. 
The epithet " government agent" is immediately fixed 
on him, who in a comparison of America and England, 
should venture to give the preference to England, the 
birth-place of the greatest advocates ofcivil and religious 
liberty the world has ever produced. But as I am pos- 
sessed of as much information derived from American 
sources, as perhaps any " foreij^ner " of the real situa- 
tion of this country, 1 will give the substance of this in- 
formation to the people of England ; and as a book when 
published is the property of the public, any portion of 
that public have a right to examine the facts and receive 
or reject the opinions formed by the author ; and so con- 
vinced am I of the truths and the evidence I have and 
shall bring in aid of what I assert being not easily con- 
tradicted, that I here invite a discussion of the subject 
with any inhabitant of this country, either native or fo- 
reigner, provided the disputant gives his name and ad- 
dress, for I have an aversion to literary assassination, be- 
lieving an honest man would not write in his closet what 
he would be ashamed of avowing by signing his name. 
I remain, your's, &c, 

WILLIAM CLAKK 



ur a ly 



>°-^*. 






J-^-^^J., 














6 0, 

















"^ ''^/y-'^ W%^v /'X -.IP/ ^►'^'^ 







* > « « « *d 






















t ^-..^^ 




P m * 











^o 





cO^J^vV".** 



















WERT 

BOOKBINONC 

CrawviUe Pa 

Ju/yAugusI 1988 










